Backgrounder

The corruption risk at the heart of Prabowo's free meals program

President Prabowo Subianto's free nutritious meal program was conceived as a transformative social policy to improve child nutrition, strengthen human capital and demonstrate the state's ability to deliver tangible benefits to millions of Indonesians. It is also the policy most closely associated with his presidency. More than any other initiative, its success or failure will shape public perceptions of his administration.

Papua needs more than calls for peace

Turning marketplaces into tax collectors

Starting Aug. 1, four of the country's largest marketplaces - Tokopedia, Shopee, Lazada and Blibli - will begin withholding income tax directly from qualifying merchants' sales, replacing the long-standing self-assessment system. By turning digital platforms into tax collectors, the government hopes to improve compliance. The challenge is whether it can formalize the digital economy without discouraging the small businesses that drive its growth.

Edition

July 3, 2026

The Nadiem saga: Victory or setback for the justice system?

The Chromebook procurement case has become one of Indonesia's highest-profile corruption prosecutions, sparking intense debate over whether it represents a straightforward anti-corruption effort or something far more consequential.

Militarization, governance drift and business risk in cooperatives program

SAL reversal: Policy flexibility or policy uncertainty?

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa's decision to reverse course on the placement of the budget surplus balance (SAL) warrants closer scrutiny. While the move may reflect policymakers' willingness to respond to changing market conditions, it also raises a more fundamental question: Does frequent policy recalibration strengthen confidence by demonstrating flexibility, or does it undermine the certainty that the financial system depends on?

Edition

June 26, 2026

When free meals program turns into political battleground

The corruption scandal engulfing the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has significantly amplified public skepticism toward President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free nutritious meal program. What began as policy criticism has since escalated into street protests.

Iran peace deal brings respite for President Prabowo at home

Power blackouts reveal a deeper energy dilemma

Recent rolling blackouts have exposed more than temporary technical failures. Although the government and state-owned electricity company PLN attributed the outages to shortages of medium-calorie coal and technical problems at two independent power plants, the disruptions highlight a deeper dilemma: balancing affordable electricity tariffs with the financial sustainability of electricity amid rising geopolitical and energy market uncertainty.

Edition

June 19, 2026

Students take to the streets, targeting Prabowo, but military response is swift

Students from Indonesia's leading universities have once again taken to the streets in Jakarta and other major cities, about eight months after the last wave of mass protests turned violent. This time, they are specifically targeting President Prabowo Subianto's leadership and governing style, which they blame for the country's current economic difficulties.

Military and police expand further into civilian sectors

Who should pay for Greater Jakarta’s public transit?

After more than two decades without a fare increase, the Jakarta administration is once again debating whether it is time to raise Transjakarta ticket prices. As passenger numbers continue to surge and operating costs outpace revenue growth, maintaining the current flat fare of Rp 3,500 (20 US cents) is becoming increasingly difficult. Yet the debate extends beyond whether passengers should pay more. It also raises a broader question: Should Jakarta alone continue subsidizing a service that increasingly benefits commuters from across Greater Jakarta?